The former state legislator and Miami-Dade Property Appraiser will officially begin his job on Monday.

Governor Rick Scott named Lopez-Cantera to the post in January. The job of lieutenant governor has been vacant since March 2012.

Former lieutenant governor Jennifer Carroll abruptly resigned after she was interviewed by law-enforcement authorities about work she once did for a charity that prosecutors have said was a front for a widespread gambling ring. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing and later said she was forced to resign.

The 40-year-old Lopez-Cantera is the first Hispanic and Cuban-American to hold the post of lieutenant governor. He will be Scott's running mate in the November elections.